Yes, we all know that there is way too much plastic everywhere. Though the governments are banning the single use shopping plastic bags to curb the problem of the plastic in our environment, it is nowhere close to what needs to be done to keep the Earth clean and pure for generations to come after we’re long gone.
Plastic has its pros. I do not deny that. The number of jobs it provides to those who work in those industries is huge, recycling plants included but the numbers are not that high in the recycling industry, I guess.
But I want to make a list of a few items that can be replaced with their non-plastic rival, without creating too much of a lifestyle change for the consumers. Let’s go –
Toothbrush – It breaks my heart to see plastic still being used as a handle for toothbrush or any other brushes. Why? When this can be replaced with wooden handles / bamboo handles. How great would it be, when you walk in to the supermarket to buy a toothbrush and all your options come in wooden handle toothbrush.
To dispose, simply toss the handle minus the bristles in to the compost pile.
There would be more farms growing bamboo to feed to the toothbrush industry. So, it is a win-win, for both the environment as well as the farmers, as well as us as the consumers.
Fruits and Vegetable Chopping Boards – A slab of wood does the job perfectly. But no, we created them in a plastic option. And the price is considerably cheaper, in its plastic form. Many a times, I see them in the stores in a pack of 2. And it goes without saying, it is wrapped up in a plastic sheet.
Packaging of food in supermarkets – Everything in a supermarket is packed. It could be a can of beans, a jar of tomato sauce, rice, lentils or even fresh produce. Does that bunch of bananas really need to be wrapped in plastic? What about the avocados? Is there something in that plastic that makes it stay fresh longer? Or taste better? Or provide more nutrition? So then, is it really required?
There are packaging’s that I have come across, that are made out of cardboard, paper, corn starch packaging, Cellulose packaging, packing made from mushrooms. But the products cost is considerably higher compared to the products in plastic packaging.
Maybe if we only focused on packaging products in a more sustainable manner, many of the folks who work in the plastic industry or those who migrate from rural farming areas to cities might just reduce.
We as consumers, are to blame too. But should we take all the blame? We are offered an option of convenience and why would we not opt for it? We are spoilt with the comfort of having all things coming to us in packages.
Isn’t it our government’s role to provide for us a clean environment, distributed jobs to avoid depletion of resources in any particular areas? Why not create guidelines, about what materials are used in the packaging of foods sold in the supermarkets? These too fall in the single use category, right? So, why only ban the plastic bags that are used to carry your purchases from the supermarkets.
All Images are my own and have been photographed by me 😊
